UCFB Academy, Manchester

UCFB Men's Football Academy

At UCFB our elite football academy is tailored for released male footballers from all of the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs in England as well as professional clubs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

UCFB Wembley, UCFB Manchester

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Academy overview

The academy provides unparalleled opportunities for aspiring professionals to study university degrees in football coaching, management, business and numerous other sectors of the sports industry. These unique programmes will be completed alongside a full-time training programme, giving our students the best chance of a successful career, whether on or off the pitch.

Elite level players are able to train full-time with the intensity and competitivity of a professional footballer, led by highly experienced coaches from the English Premier League and academy system. The primary aim of the academy is to allow players who have been released from professional club academies to continue to develop their footballing talents through a full-time coaching and education programme.

Students within the academy also have exclusive access to world-leading performance analysis tools from Hudl, the industry-standard software used by athletes, coaches and clubs across the globe.

Partnerships

In order to enhance the programme, we have formed partnerships with a number of semi-professional clubs in London, ranging from The National League to Counties level, placing players at the appropriate club and level for their current stage of development. Players will train at UCFB during the week and also play in the British University and Colleges League (BUCS) Wednesday League, before joining the appropriate team for training and fixtures at the weekend. Furthermore, the programme will be enhanced with fixtures arranged against professional and semi-professional teams in order to challenge and develop the footballers further.

Thanks to our partnerships with The Football Association, The National League, League Managers Association, Kick It Out and over 350 employment partners from the world of sport, our academy is a natural next step in UCFB’s vision to drive forward the sports industry together.

Eligible degrees

Players can study any of our available Undergraduate programmes. Please be advised some courses are not specifically tailored around your training schedule so sessions may clash with academic commitments.

Entry requirements

Application eligibility

Alongside footballing talents, applicants must meet the minimum academic and/or professional requirements to be accepted to study at UCFB.

Students on the UCFB Academy, Manchester have the option of choosing an undergraduate degree, many of which also offer a foundation year for those who do not meet the requirements for the 3-year programme. For a full list of undergraduate degrees, please click here. Alternatively, academy players can complete a one-year Certificate of Higher Education in Football Coaching & Management at UCFB, which consists of the first year modules from the BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management degree. The entry requirements for the Certificate of Higher Education are currently under review. Please contact admissions@ucfb.com should you have any questions.

Applicants for whom English is a second language will need a valid IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.0 and no individual score lower than 5.5.

Applicants to UCFB Etihad Campus must hold a British/EU passport or have the right to work and study in the UK.

The academy is also open to students who wish to study a postgraduate degree at UCFB. For a full list of postgraduate degrees, please click here.

Career prospects

Career prospects for graduates from the UCFB Academy vary greatly, depending on both the individuals chosen degree programme and playing progression within the academy. Should they not go on to achieve professional footballer status, graduates may wish to also consider more traditional business, sport management or leadership roles using transferable skills gained throughout their degree. Opportunities in football coaching and scouting roles within professional football academies have also proved popular with our alumni. In addition, over the last three seasons, three players have signed professional contract at clubs in the EFL Championship, EFL League Two and Segundo Davison in Spain.